An election would be ‘complex’ during COVID-19, top public infectious disease prevention doctor tells MPs

One of Canada’s top advisors on infectious diseases says it would be difficult to safely conduct a federal election campaign with the public health measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“I would recommend taking whatever measures we could to avoid creating a condition where we increase the risk of transmission where we create an opportunity for mass gatherings or large gatherings or an obligation for people to gather together where the possibly can’t maintain their distancing,” Dr. Barbara Raymond, an executive medical advisor in the Public Health Agency of Canada’s infectious disease prevention and control branch, told MPs on the House procedure and affairs committee on Thursday.

“There’s some people who are sick or some people who are symptomatic (and) won’t be able to leave their homes. You know, it would be a very complex undertaking.”

Raymond weighed in on the logistics of a federal election while speaking on a videoconference with the committee, which has been given the responsibility by the House to come up with suggestions of how the Lower Chamber can continue to function during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservative Blake Richards, vice-chair of the committee, asked Raymond about how an election could be carried out given the limitations that people in Canada are living under in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It would require a significant degree of planning, in terms of how to do that safely… If the requirement is absolute then we find a way to manage the risk associated with it,” Raymond said.

The Liberals currently hold a plurality, but not a majority, of seats in the House of Commons, meaning the opposition parties could join together and topple the government on a confidence matter, which would likely send voters back to the polls. However, it’s unlikely any party would be supportive of defeating the Liberals given the current public health crisis.

Raymond was joined as a witness at Thursday’s meeting by Michel Patrice, the deputy clerk of administration of the House of Commons. Patrice provided details about how the House will operate in its temporary COVID-19-response format, which will include one weekly in-person sitting of a new pandemic-focused committee.

“We have put in place a number of preventative measures to help ensure the health and safety of members, their staff and administration employees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Patrice said.

The House administration has established a medical advisory service that will support MPs and staff, should they experience health issues associated with COVID-19. They’re available Monday to Friday and will arrange calls with physicians in the case that someone is suffering from symptoms of the coronavirus.

The House’s own occupational health professionals will be tracking cases, or suspected cases, of COVID-19 amongst workers or members, and following up with employees who show symptoms.

Currently, MPs will not be required to wear personal protective equipment like masks. Nor will House administration staff. Concerning staff, Patrice said the policy is being “closely monitored and adjusted as necessary.”

The administration of the House has bought masks and gloves in case its staff needs to begin wearing them on the job, Patrice said.

On sitting days, it takes about 190 House staff at the precinct to allow it to function. When it’s not sitting, Patrice said there are still about 135 staff in the building. It is now subject to more frequent cleaning, with high-traffic areas such as entrances, exits, elevators and handrails now being cleaned three times a day. There are also now more sanitation stations, and disinfectant wipes available to workers, as well as more signs encouraging physical distancing and proper disease-preventing hygiene posted in the legislature, according to Patrice. Plexiglass barriers have been installed as well in places where recommended physical distancing is impossible to maintain.

Starting next week, the COVID-19 special committee, which counts all MPs as members, will meet by videoconference on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In-person sittings will be held on Wednesdays.

All regular sittings have been suspended until May 25.

Several MPs have gone into self-isolation since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after suspecting that they may have come into contact with someone who had COVID-19. Liberal MP Kamal Khera is the only federally elected official to disclose that she had tested positive for the disease.